Container



Oct- 24, 1967 J. c. JASPER ETAL CONTAINER Filed 001:. 24, 1965 INVENTORSJouu CJASPEP. g-Bmse C RQU W, W t Mam United States Patent Ofifice3,348,727 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,727 CONTAINER John C. Jasper,Hinsdale, and Blase C. Ran, Skokie, Ill., assignors to Continental CanCompany, Inc., New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 24,1965, Ser. No. 504,952 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates ingeneral to new and useful improvements in containers of the easy openingtype and more particularly relates to a container having a removablepanel portion which is specifically designed wherein the panel portionmay be readily removed during the normal opening of the container, butat the same time remains hingedly connected to the remainder of thecontainer when the opening of the container is abnormal and theremovable portion is rapidly torn from the adjacent portion of thecontainer.

It is to be understood that when a product is packaged under pressure ina container, the pressure reacts against the removable panel portion ofthe container when the container is of the easy opening type, toabnormally urge the removable panel portion to a released position. Inthe usual easy opening container, the removable panel portion hasattached to one end thereof a tab. This tab is initially lifted andfunctions as -a lever to elfect the initial rupture of the removablepanel portion with respect to the remainder of the container. At thistime an upwardly directed force is being applied to the tab. After theinitial rupture occurs, the tab is utilized as a handle to exert apulling force on the removable panel portion and eifect the tearingthereof away from the remainder of the container. However, when extremepressures are applied against the removable panel portion, immediatelyafter the initial rupture there is a tendency for the pressure to blowotf the removable panel portion. Since the pull tab is not being firmlygripped at this time, the pull tab and removable panel portionfrequently blow off from the remainder of the container in a mannerwhich is uncontrolled with the possibility of serious injury tobystanders. It is the purpose of this invention to so construct a panelof an easy opening container wherein this accidental blow otf of theremovable panel portion is prevented.

It has been found that the uncontrolled blow off of a removable panelportion may be easily accomplished by providing the panel in which theremovable panel portion is formed with a pair of score lines whichdefine a hinge connecting the removable panel portion to the remainderof the panel remote from the starting end of the removable panel wherebywhen the removable panel portion is rapidly torn from the remainder ofthe panel, in lieu of being completely torn from the panel, it willremain attached to thepanel by means of the hinge and will hingerelative thereto under the influence of pressure from within thecontainer.

Another object of this invention is to provide the terminal portion of aremovable panel portion with a safety horn which normally connects theremovable panel portion to the remainder of the panel and whichfunctions as a hinge between the removable panel portion and theadjacent part of the remainder of the panel adjacent the terminal end ofthe removable panel portion to prevent the uncontrolled blow off of theremovable panel portion during the opening of the associated container.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a container incorporating a canend formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rotated top perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and showsthe container in an intermediate stage of being open.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the can end of FIGURE 1and shows the specific details of the removable panel portion thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the can end of FIG- URE 2 taken generallyalong line 44 of FIGURE 2 and shows the manner in which the removablepanel portion is hingedly connected to the remainder of the can end bythe safety horn.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5of FIGURE 2 and shows further the function of the safety horn.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 an easy opening container which is generallyreferred to by the numeral 10. The container 10 includes a conventionalcan or container 11 to which there is secured by means of a double seam12 a can end formed in accordance with this invention, the can end beinggenerally referred to by the numeral 13. The can end 13, except for theeasy opening feature thereof, is of the conventional type and includesan end panel 14. a

In order to facilitate the pouring of a liquid from within the container10, the end panel 14 is provided with a removable panel portion 15. Theremovable panel portion 15 is elongated and is defined by a peripheralweakening line in the form of a continuous score line 16. The

score line 16 includes a starting part 17, two spaced apart intermediateparts 18 and a transversely extending termi nal part 19. The removablepanel portion 15 includes a starting end 21 and a terminal end 22.

In order to facilitate the tearing of the removable panel portion 15from the end panel 14, the can end 13 is provided with an integral rivet23. The integral rivet 23 is formed of the metal of the end panel 14 andis positioned in the starting end of the removable panel portion 15. Theintegral rivet 23 is utilized to secure a pull tab 24 to the removablepanel portion 15. The connection between the removable panel portion 15and the pull tab 24 is a rigid one and when the end of the pull tab 24remote from the removable panel portion 15 is lifted, it functions as alever to effect the initial rupture of the panel 14 along the startingpart 17. At the time this initial rupture occurs, only an upwardlydirected force is being applied to the pull tab 24 and there is norestraining force applied thereto by ones fingers. As a result, when thepressure in the container 10 is too great and the resistance to tearingof the removable panel portion 15 is not sufiiciently great, there willbe a rapid tearing of the end panel 14 along the score line 16 with theresult that the removable panel portion 15 will be blown off of thecontainer 10' together with the pull tab 24.

The can end 13, as described above, is conventional. However, inaccordance with this invention there has been made a minor change in theconstruction of the can end 13 which has served to prevent theuncontrolled blow olf of the removable panel portion 15. In addition tothe peripheral score line 16 which defines the removable panel portion15, the end panel 14 is provided with a pair of spaced apart score lines25 which intersect the transverse part 19 of the score line 16 andterminate in the end panel 14. That portion of the end panel disposedbetween the score lines 25 is considered as a safety horn or hinge 26.It is to be noted that the safety horn 26 is connected to the majorportion of the terminal score line part 19, which major portion extendstransversely of the axis of the removable panel portion 15. Thetransverse score line part terminates at its ends in small radiussharply curved portions 27 which are integrally connected to the spacedapart intermediate portions 18 of the score line.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 in particular, it wil be seen thatafter initial rupture of the end panel 14 occurs, upward movement of thepull tab 24 will result in the rupture of the end panel 14 along thescore line intermediate portions 18 and as the pull directed on theremovable panel portion 15 is generally axially, the rupturing of theend panel 14 will occur along the sharply curved parts 27 and then alongthe two score lines 25 with the intermediate part of the terminal scoreline portion 19 remaining unruptured. This in termediate part isreferred to by the numeral 28. The safety horn 26 will then function asa hinge as is generally shown in FIG- URE 5.

Although the removable panel portion 15 will hinge along the safety horn26, when a transverse force is exerted on the removable panel portion 15through the pull tab 24, the removable panel portion 15 will be tornfrom the safety horn 26 by the rupture of the end panel 14 along thecentral part 28. On the other hand, if the sudden tearing of the endpanel 14 along the score line 16 is occasioned by the pressure withinthe container 10, then the force exerted on the removable panel portion15 is all upwardly and axially and only hinging of the removable panelportion 15 along the safety horn 26 will occur. There will be notransverse tearing force exerted on the removable panel portion 15, andthe end panel 14 will remain intact along the transverse part 28 of theterminal score line portion 19.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that although the can end 13 maydiffer from prior can ends only by the addition of the score lines 25,which score lines define the safety horn 26, the results obtainable withthese score lines 25 are outstanding. The score lines prevent theaccidental blowing off of the removable panel portion 15 by providingfor a safety hinge, but in no way detract from the openingcharacteristics of the can end 13. Although a slight hinging willnormally occur along the safety horn 26 during the opening of thecontainer .10, the formation of the short score lines 25 will in no waydeter the tearing off of the removable panel portion 15 from theremainder of the end panel 14. Thus, it may be said that the advantagesof the score lines 25 and the resultant safety horn are all positive andthere are no negative advantages.

It is to be understood that although only a preferred embodiment of pulltab has been illustrated and the outline of the removable panel portion15 is that presently preferred, the invention is not so restricted.

It is also to be understood that although only a preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been specifically illustrated and described, minorvariations may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of they invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a panel of the type including a panel portion removable by tearingand wherein said removable panel portion is defined by a peripheralweakening line having a terminal portion; the improvement residing inthe further weakening of said panel adjacent said weakening lineterminal portion to define a hinge strap forming a continuation of saidremovable panel portion and preventing the complete removal of saidpanel portion under abnormal opening conditions.

2. The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion iselongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion andsaid hinge strap extends in the direction of elongation.

3. The panel of claim 1 wherein said further weakening of said-panel isinthe form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending fromsaidterminal weakening line portion.

4. The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion iselongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion in thedirection of elongation.

5.,The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion iselongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion, saidterminal weakening line por tion extends generally transversely of saidremovable panel portion and said hinge strap extends in the direction ofelongation.

6. The panel of claim 5 wherein said further weakening of said panel isin the form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending fromsaid terminal weakening.

line portion.

7. The panel of claim 5 wherein said terminal weakening line portionincludes a central part and end parts, said end portions being arcuateand connected to intermediate portions, and said hinge strap extendsfrom said central portion.

8. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakem,

ing of said panel is in the form of a pair of spaced apart weakeninglines extending from said terminal weakening line portion.

9. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakening of said panel isin the form of a pair ,of spaced. apart weakening lines extending fromsaid terminal weakening line portion at the ends of said central part.

10. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakening of said panel isin the form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending fromsaid terminal weakening line portion, said end parts being relativelyshort and of a smal radius whereby said spaced apart weakening linesform substantially extensions of said weakening line and when saidremovable panel portion is rapidly torn from the panel the tearing ofsaid panel occurs along said spaced apart weakening line instead ofalong said central part.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,225,957 12/1965 Huth 220-54THERON E. CONDQN, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN A PANEL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A PANEL PORTION REMOVABLE BY TEARINGAND WHEREIN SAID REMOVABLE PANEL PORTION IS DEFINED BY A PERIPHERALWEAKENING LINE HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION; THE IMPROVEMENT RESIDING INTHE FURTHER WEAKENING OF SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID WEAKENING LINETERMINAL PORTION TO DEFINE A HINGE STRAP FORMING A CONTINUATION OF SAIDREMOVABLE PANEL PORTION AND PRE-